Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a Democrat from California, was removed from her private Capitol office by the new Speaker Pro Tempore, Patrick McHenry, a Republican from North Carolina. McHenry, a close ally of the now-former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, ordered Pelosi to vacate her Capitol hideaway by Wednesday. This eviction followed McCarthy’s ousting from his role as House Speaker. Pelosi received an email notifying her of the eviction, stating that her hideaway was being reassigned for Speaker’s office use, and she was instructed to vacate the space.
Pelosi relocated from her hideaway with assistance from the staff of House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, a Democrat from New York. Capitol hideaways are a privilege limited to a select few House members. Pelosi expressed disappointment at the eviction, especially given the timing, as she was in California to mourn the loss of her friend Dianne Feinstein and couldn’t retrieve her belongings immediately.
Pelosi characterized this eviction as a departure from tradition and emphasized her willingness to allocate office space generously during her tenure as Speaker. She urged the new Republican Leadership to focus on more important matters for the American people.
Pelosi’s eviction occurred following McCarthy’s removal from the speakership, with eight House Republicans, including Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida, voting alongside House Democrats to remove McCarthy. Pelosi abstained from voting due to her presence in California for Senator Feinstein’s burial.
